As Islam Spread to Asia, Kabir Represents Missed Opportunity

An interesting historical figure emerges from the story of Islam's spread through Asia. Kabir was born of humble origins to Muslim parents in the Hindu holy city of Banaras. Kabir rejected the trappings of organized religion--the rituals, the dogmatic scriptures and the Hindu concept of caste. Instead, he advocated a simple love of God. Evidently, his independent path was too much for the power structures in both religions. As a threat to the status quo (which is perhaps the gravest blasphemy of all), he was shunned by Muslim and Hindus alike.

Kabir authored many poems, in which he borrowed from both religions. For example:

"O servant, where doest thou seek Me?

Lo! I am beside thee.

I am neither in temple nor in mosque:

Neither am I in rites and ceremonies, nor in Yoga and renunciation."

Kabir was known to chant the name of Rama, one of Hindu's great divinities. This habit antagonized the Muslims (who would not tolerate veneration of any God other than Allah) and it antagonized the Hindus, who considered such chanting by a non-Hindu to be a serious religious offense.

There was some intermingling between Islam and Hinduism as Islam reached India beginning in a big way in the 12th century. Sufi mystics, representing a less dogmatic strain of Islam, made greater efforts than mainstream Muslims to tolerate some Hindu practices. But in general, the two religions remained as uncompromising and separate ideologies.

Over time, Islam acquired millions of converts in India. In the mid-20th century, when India gained its independence from Great Britain, the rigid and dogmatic approach of the two religions caused much violence. The nations of Pakistan and Bangladesh were carved out of India to create overwhelmingly Muslim countries.

Much of Kabir's life is shrouded in mystery, and many myths have grown up around the man. Even his birth and death dates are in question. The Perennial Dictionary of World Religions puts Kabir's dates at 1440-1518. He is now recognized as a saint in India, and a religious community (Kabir Panth) has been organized to preserve his teachings.